Rotary engine.



No. 75,977.. Patented Dec. 16, I902.

S. E. CABOTHEBS.

ROTARY ENGINE. Ap umio filed May 3, 1902. (N0 Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 715,977. Patented Dec. I6, 1902.

8. 'E. CARUTHERS. ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed May 8, 1902.)

(No Model.) 5' Sheets-Sheet '2.

| WITNESSES: 2L //v VENTOH A TTORNE Y S N0. 7|5,977. Patented DBO. l6,I902.

s. E. CAROTHERS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed my 8, 1902.) (No-Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

w/rA/Esm IN VEN 70/? W Mimi r I f A TTORNE Y8 Patented Dec. I6, |90 2..8.. E. CARDTHERS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed May 3, 1.902.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Shet 4;

WYZWESSES r [N VENTOH 7 ,g ,2 UL C:

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No. 7|5,977. Patented Dec. |6-, I902.

- s. E. CAROTHERS. 4

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed May 3, 1902.)

' 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 (No Model.)

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INVENTOI? A TTOHNFYS Unirrnn STAT S ATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL EUGENE CAROTHERS, OF OONROE, TEXAS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,977, dated December16, 1902.

Application filed May 3, 1902. $eria1No. 105,781. (No model.)

To a. whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL EUGENE O ROTHERs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Oonroe, in the county of Montgomery and State ofTexas, have made certain new and useful Improvementsin Rotary Engines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in rotary engines, and particularly inthat class of such engines wherein the piston is operated by di-. rectand expansive force of steam; and the invention consists in certainnovel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View, and Fig. 2 is an endelevation, of my engine. Fig. 3 is an elevation from the opposite endfrom that shown in Fig. 2. vertical longitudinal section on about line 44 of Fig. 2, parts being removed. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on aboutline 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of thefeedvalve. Fig. 7.is a detail enlarged section on about line 7 7 of Fig.1, and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective View of one of the slidingabutments.

In carrying out my invention I provide a base A, on which is mounted thecylindershell B, having the ends 0, which are provided with bearings Ofor the shaft D, to which shaft is secured the piston E, operatingconcentrically within the cylinder and made of less diameter than theinner diameter of the cylinder providing the steam-space B and havingthe projecting blades E, which extend across the steam-space B, as bestshown in Fig. 5. blades E, arranged diametrically opposite each other,the outer edges of the blades being packed at 6 against the innersurface of the cylinder-shell, while the ends of the pis-- ton arepacked at e against the ends of the cylinder, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.The

steam-chests F, preferably three in number,- as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and5, are suitably ar-.

ranged in connection with the cylinder and communicate at theirinteriors with the insliding abutments G, which are packed at f,

as shown in Fig. 5. These sliding abutments G are packed at g at theirinner edges and Fig. 4 is a As shown, I employ two are provided in theiropposite sides with recesses G and G through which communication isestablished with the chambers H and H of the steam chest or casing F.These abutments constitute one end of expansion-chambers, whose otherends are provided by the blades of the piston, so the steam will operatebetween the abutments and said blades to drive the piston in onedirection or the'other, according to the feed of steam. Thus if the livesteam be admitted to the chambers H the piston will be turned in thedirection indicated by the full-line arrows in Fig. 5, and theexhaust-steam will be forced into the chambers H of the steam-casing anddisposed of in the manner presently described. It will be understoodthat means must be provided for moving the sliding abutments in and out,so they will occupy the position shown at the upper side and left ofFig. 5 when the steam is operating between the said abutments and theblades of the piston, and will be adjusted outward to the position shownat the right in Fig. 5 to permit the blade of the piston to pass, thisbeing effected by mechanism which will presently be described.

It will be understood from the foregoing that steam is admitted tocorresponding chambers of the steam-casings to drive the piston in onedirection, and the steam will be exhausted through the other chambers ofthe casings,and, further, by reversing the feed of steam and supplyingit through the other chambers of the chests or casings the piston can becaused to turn in the opposite direction.

As shown, the abutments G slide between parallel guide-plates F in theirrespective steam-chests, such guide-plates fitting close to the oppositesides of the abutment and terminating at their inner ends at fsuificiently short of the inner ends of the steam casings or chests.

When the abutments are adjusted outward to the position shown at theright in F g. 5, the recesses G and G will be. closed by theguide-plates F as shown in the said Fig. 5. These guide-plates alsocombine with the sliding abutments in dividing the steamlevers I, whichare pivoted at I, and have their other ends connected by links I witharms J of bell-crank levers J, which are pivoted at J and have theirother arms J operating in a cam-groove K in the periphery of a wheel K,mounted on the shaft D. This cam-groove K is provided with a wing K inwhich the arms J travel when the abutment is forced into the positionshown at the top and left in Fig. 5, and with a wing K in which the saidarms J travel when the abutments are adjusted outwardly to the positionat the right in Fig. 5, and with a connectingwing K extending betweenthe wings K and K as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 4. As thecam-wheel revolves it will at the proper time cause the abutments tomove in and out and to secure the operation before described.

By the described construction it will be noticed the steam may beadmitted to corresponding chambers of tho steam-casing and will passthence into the cylinder and operate the piston in one direction or theother, according to the chambers of the steam-casing to which the livesteam is admitted. In order to control the direction of the piston andto effect a reversal of the engine whenever desired, I provide valvemechanism, including a valve L and a valve-casing M, in which said valveoperates, and connections by which communication may be establishedbetween the valve-casing M and the opposite chambers of thesteam-casings F. As shown, I provide the casing M with a feed-port M andan exhaust-port M preferably arranged diametrically opposite each other,and between the said ports M and M I provide opposite each other ports Mand M", the valve L being arranged for adjustment within the casing, asshown in Fig. '7, so it may establish communication between the port Mand the ports M and the port M and the ports M when adjusted to thefull-line position shown in Fig. 7 or to cause the ports M and M tocommunicate and the ports M and M to communicate when adjusted to thedottedline position shown in the said Fig. '7. The ports M communicatethrough pipes 1 with the chambers H of the steam-casings F, while theports M communicate through pipes 2 with the chambers H of thesteam-casings F, as will be understood from Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7, itbeing understood that the pipes 1 and 2 are suitably disposed toproperly connect one section of the valve-casing with one set ofchambers of the steam-casings and the other section of the valve-casingwith the other set of chambers of the steam-casings, so the valve L maybe adjusted, as will be understood from Fig. 7, to feed live steam tothe chambers on one or the other side of the sliding abutments, theexhaust being properly effected from the opposite sides of suchabutment, as will be understood from the drawings and precedingdescription. Any suitable governor mechanism, such as shown in Figs. 2and 3, may be employed for controlling the throttle-valve, and thespecific construction of such valve may be of any approved style.

In the operation of the described construction the valve L may beadjusted to either position by means of a hand-wheel L (see Fig. 4) orother suitable construction, and the engine will proceed to operateunder the action of the steam, the lovers and cam devices, in connectionwith the sliding abutments, operating to shift the same in and out atproper intervals.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Theimprovementin rotary engines herein described, comprising thecylinder, the steam-chests located at intervals around the cylinder andcommunicating therewith and provided with guide-plates arranged withinthe steam-chests and terminating at their inner ends short of the innerends of said chests and spaced apart to receive between them the slidingabutments, the sliding abutments operating within the steam chests andarranged to project at their inner ends in certain positions within theeylinderand having in their opposite faces the recesses for the passageof the steam when the abutments are adjusted to their innermostposition, said recesses being arranged to be closed by the oppositeguide-plates in the outermost position of the abutments, said abutmentsand guideplates combining to form partitions dividing the steam chestsinto separate chambers, means for operating the abutments, the pistonprovided with blades, and means whereby the steam and exhaust may beadmitted and discharged, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination substantially as herein described, of the cylinder,the piston therein, and provided with blades, the steam chests orcasings located at intervals around the eylinder and communicating attheir interiors with the interior of the cylinder, the guideplatesprojecting inwardly from the outer walls of said steam-chests andterminating at their inner ends short of the inner ends of the chestsand spaced apart to receive between them the sliding abutments, thesliding abutments operating between the said guideplates and provided intheir opposite faces with recesses which are closed in one position ofthe abutments by the opposite plates and establish communication in theother position of the abutments between the steamchest and the cylinder,the levers connected with said abutments, the bell-crank levers havingone arm connected with said first levers to operate the same, and thepiston-shaft provided with a wheel having a cam-groove in which operatesthe other arms of the bellcrank lever, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination substantially as herein described, of the cylinder,the steam-chests located at intervals around the cylinder and providedwith guide-plates and abutments dividing said chests into separatechambers,

the valve-casing having inlet and exhaust whereby it may be adjusted tofeed and exports and a valve dividing it into sections haust steam fromthe several steam-chests, IO and provided in the opposite sections Withsnbstantiallyasandforthepurposessetfol'th. ports, and pipes connectingthe ports of one section with one set of chambers of the valve- SAMUELEUGENE OAROTHDRS' chest and the ports of the other section of theWitnesses: valve-casing with the other set of chambers W. M. WILLIAMS,0f the valve-chest, the valve being shiftable, l M. ALSWORTH.

